Postponement of Job Evaluation Letters

14th December 2008

As a result of two late developments, The Highland Council's Modernising Employment Sub Committee has agreed to postpone the issue of the job evaluation letters, advising of new pay and grading structures, to its 10,000 non-teaching employees.

Employees had been advised that letters would be posted today (Friday). However, the process has been delayed so the Council can discuss with Unison concerns they have expressed as well as have further discussions with the External Equality Impact Assessor, in order to complete the impact assessment.

Councillor Carolyn Wilson, Chairman of the Resources Committee, said she very much regretted the delay in issuing the job evaluation letters.

She said: "I can appreciate the disappointment and frustration that many of our employees will feel as a result of this 11th hour postponement of this long-awaited process. The delay is deeply regretted. However, this is a hugely important issue and we must get it right. We will have separate discussions with Unison and our independent Equality Impact Assessor with the aim of resolving outstanding issues and getting the letters out as early as possible in the new year."

Meanwhile, the Council today (Friday) posted letters to an estimated 2,500 predominantly female manual workers who are covered by the Council's equal pay framework. These letters will advise employees of the monies due to them under the equal pay framework between I October 2006 and the effective date of the new pay structure i.e. 1 April 2008.

Equal pay signing sessions have been scheduled to take place at venues throughout the Council area. The Council is committed to making payments as quickly as possible after employees have signed their compromise agreement at their signing session.

Employees have also been advised that the decision by the Council to pay the 3% national pay award with effect from 1 April 2008, for all APT&C staff and Manual Workers, is also not affected. This pay award with back pay will be implemented from the end of January 2009.